Medical facts on allergies, symptoms and diseases!
Hypertension
Hypertension, commonly referred to as high blood pressure, is a medical
condition where the blood pressure is chronically elevated.
Blood pressure is a measure of the force exerted by the blood flowing through
the arteries - the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body.
A certain amount of pressure in the arteries is normal and necessary to get
the blood to where it needs to go.
However, if the pressure becomes consistently too high it is dangerous to that person.
Repeated episodes of high pressure can damage the arteries, causing them to
thicken and become less elastic.
This limits the flow of blood and may case permanently raised blood
pressure. If blood pressure remains high it can start to damage the blood vessels, which
can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart or kidney failure or even eye damage.
It rarely makes a person feel ill. If it goes undetected and untreated it can
lead to serious complications, including heart attack.
Over a third of people with hypertension are not being treated and their health
is at risk.
All adults should have their blood pressure checked at least once every five
years, but preferably more often.
This is especially true as you get older, as blood pressure goes up with age.
Blood pressure is measured using a cuff device, which is worn on the arm and
can be inflated and deflated.
Several readings should be taken over a period of time to get an accurate
measurement as blood pressure can fluctuate and one high reading does not
necessarily mean a person has hypertension.
What causes hypertension?
In over 90% of cases there is no single underlying cause, but drinking too
much alcohol, being overweight or obese, eating too much salt and not doing
enough exercise all contribute.
High blood pressure can also run in families.
In a very small number of cases, a single cause can be found, such as kidney disease.
Some medications may also cause a rise in blood pressure.
Certain medications — including birth control pills, cold remedies,
decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription
drugs — also may cause secondary hypertension.
What are the symptoms?
Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood
pressure readings reach dangerously high levels.
Although a few people with early-stage high blood pressure may have
headaches, dizzy spells or a few more nosebleeds than normal, these signs
and symptoms typically don't occur until high blood pressure has reached a
possibly life-threatening stage.
What is the treatment?
There are many lifestyle changes a person can make to reduce their risk of
hypertension or help lower their blood pressure if it is already high.
These include eating a healthier diet, doing more exercise and cutting down on
salt and alcohol intakes.
Doctors recommend weight loss and regular exercise as the first steps in
treating mild to moderate hypertension. These steps are highly effective in
reducing blood pressure, although most patients with moderate or severe
hypertension end up requiring indefinite drug therapy to bring their blood
pressure down to a safe level.
Smoking is not a direct risk factor for high blood pressure, but it does increase
the chance of heart attack, heart failure and stroke.
Within two years of stopping smoking a person's risk of a heart attack is halved.
Research suggests relaxation techniques to help with stress.
Medications are also available to help lower blood pressure, including ACE
inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics. Often people
need to take more than one of these.
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